Friends,

We promised you last time a bit more about the animals we’ve seen. Well, we will start there.

We were warned not to leave the windows of our second story flat open, because of the monkeys. We never saw any around and got a bit careless. A bunch of bananas in front of a casement kitchen window open about 3" was very attractive. Fortunately, the maintenance man spotted one climbing in and scared it out. We felt ourselves lucky to only lose 4 bananas at two dollars (6 cents US) apiece. They are notorious for their destructiveness (the monkeys, not the bananas) once inside. Fortunately, we had no caps (elementary teacher joke) for them to take—and we are now keeping that window closed when we leave.

Hey! You Monkey you, you give me back my banana!

Thompson’s Vlei—a relatively small nature preserve squeezed between our city of Mutare and the Mozambique border—has also been one of the places we have enjoyed often. While we could catch the 4 o’clock feeding which attracts three elephants and a rhino, we usually opt for the drive through the remoter part. Spotting three giraffes has proved more of a challenge than we’d anticipated, since they blend very well with the trunks of trees and tops where they browse. The fourth, a young one, has stayed out of our sight so far. Eland (large antelopes), ostriches, and scores of baboons are the other regulars here. A pleasant and relaxing one or two hours. This serenity was in direct contrast to a bit more excitement driving through the large grounds of Lion and Cheetah Wildlife Park near Harare. There we were in the midst of a number of lions strolling past our parked car. We did not get out! They looked like typical well-fed (and thus indolent) cats, but we didn’t care to verify their lack of appetite. A very nervous cheetah paced near us, while other parts of the park had zebra, eland, impala, and enough wildlife to inspire quite a few photos.

           

We also are constantly approached by people (28, as near as we can count) wanting to buy our 1988 Rover sedan (129,00 miles) when we go back to the States. It’s hard to tell whether we will be doing the person who buys our car a favor or a disservice. The car is a total orphan in that it’s not been sold here and ALL parts must be ordered from England. With inflation problems putting severe strain on the nation’s currency, the government imposed an emergency 100% tariff on many imports—including new cars. Interest rates on personal loans are running 37 to 42%. Thus, "What are you going to do with your car when you leave? May we buy it and start paying on it now?’ becomes a recurring question from many people that meet us—even casually.

The other side of the coin is the fact that since we two are seen as being fabulously rich and connected, we are regularly approached with requests to arrange scholarships, transportation, and contacts for people who seek training in a whole host of endeavors or wish to study in America. Unfortunately, they have an unrealistic view of the costs in the US and of our ability to come up with tens of thousands (US). The Zimbabweans seem to work on the principle that if you don’t try, you won’t get anything or anywhere. Thus they are not afraid to ask for help, but don’t seem upset it you aren’t able to give them what they ask.

Last Thursday, we took a long weekend (Morris’ classes were over and his final isn’t until next week) trip. We drove to Victoria Falls—It is on the opposite side of the country (1000+ kilometers) and the 650 miles took us two days each way. 

Victoria Falls

Of course, the fact that there are dozens of roadside venders of carved stone, carved wood, woven basketry, dyed cloth, and crocheted work along the way had a lot to do with the pace. Zimbabweans produce a wide range of very high quality artwork. Because some of it sells and because of the endemic lack of jobs, the result is a tremendous number of people sitting around carving, weaving, polishing and trying to sell a huge quantity of products and not enough tourists to buy them.

    

Sunday, May 16

We have discovered, however, in spite of the economic and employment difficulties here, that the United Methodist Church is alive and well in Zimbabwe. Last Sunday we attended St. John UMC in a "High Density Suburb" called Chikanga, where our maid, Grace, and her family attend. When she found out we were U. Methodist she had been urging us to visit. The church is made out of rough-hewn "logs" and burlap screening. 

St. John UMC outside

It is hardly recognizable as a church. There is no organ, or even keyboard, no educational facility, dining hall or all the other things we think we need in our churches, but inside it was packed with people who were full of the joy of the love of God. "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord" was the order of the day. A drum and hand rattles and plenty of "body language" and ululations accompanied lots of music and group singing. 

St. John UMC inside

I wish some of our American churches had that kind of spontaneity and joy. All was in Shona, so we couldn’t understand a lot, but the minister’s text was on Jonah, and he was very dramatic, so, knowing the story, we "got" part of it. The congregation has the foundation finished on a new church, but a lot of money and hard work is needed to finish it. We understand there are many other churches similar to this in Zimbabwe.

Some missionaries in a United Methodist Church in another high-density suburb of Mutare called Sakubva are starting a program for the street children who are becoming more numerous in downtown Mutare as economic conditions worsen. These children spend their time hanging around, begging, wanting to "take care of your car" when you park, or trying to sell you things. This group is hoping to provide funds to pay school fees for these children, provide tutoring for them, as well as basic necessities so they can get off the streets.

Of course, there are Methodist mission Stations dotted all over Zimbabwe, similar to the one where Ann works, which are dispensing health care, education, care for orphans, and taking care of other human needs.. We understand the Mission hospitals are the only ones which give care to AIDS patients rather than sending them home to die as the public hospitals do.

Ann’s library has a "Grand opening" this Friday morning. The children have already started to check out books and read them, but the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be the "official" start. The headmaster has invited local educational officials, headmasters of neighboring schools (to show off a bit), parents, and children. He has planned over a 2-hour program—including Ann giving a speech (nervous stomach time). We recently received the first shipment of 27 M-bags of books from Greenhills School in Ann Arbor as well as some of the first bags of the 4000 books from Hartland Schools, so Kuziwa Mawoyo and Donai Noisi, Ann’s helpers, will be busy processing for a long time to come. It will be a wonderful library. A VIM team from California and Florida were recent visitors and brought money, books and volunteered time to help in the library. Thanks go to Ilene Carpenter, the team leader, for getting the word out about our needs and to Cay, Carol and Marilyn who helped. Money to buy local books and for supplies to process the ones which are arriving are now the major library needs.

Morris’ final exam is now over. Now the correcting and final grading begins. He’s hoping all his students will make it though, but it’s a bit iffy for some of them. His students are a part of nearly 100 teachers who have just completed an intensive two-year program for a university degree. At last evening’s farewell party, there was considerable talk about going back to their largely rural schools to teach, but also of discovering how some of them could find ways to do graduate work in such places as Britain, US, and Australia. Unfortunately we will not be here for their June19 graduation. The date was established after our return date was final. Some of the US history students are planning to teach it in their schools—with no reference books or libraries to back them up! They need help.

This will be out last "Letter from Zimbabwe" as we will be heading back to the states on June 4, arriving in Detroit on June 5 in. We have mixed feelings about going. We have enjoyed our stay here—the beauty of the countryside, the spirit and friendliness of the people, their patience (especially waiting for transportation), their great sense of humor, their loving care for each other, and ability to "make do". Everything gets used—including the dirty, patched, canvas M-Bags the books came in—teachers were practically fighting over them. But we will be glad to get home and see our friends and family again, go to our church again, and enjoy our "modern conveniences" before we head out on our next adventure—and there will definitely be next adventures as long as our health and finances hold.

Thanks to you—our friends, relatives and supporters for helping us keep in touch with home. We have appreciated your notes and comments on our activities and letters. They were an important lifeline. God bless you all.

Morris & Ann

PS- All the letters and some pictures are fairly readily available on the "Taber" web page, http://www.taber.net/anm/letters.htm  (I just discovered that all I had to do was double-click on the address and my web connector took over—Easy!)